The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-09-21
THE GREAT FIGHT.
Granite State solons Still Discussing
the Boston & Maine.
Foreign Contract Labor Employed
on New Hampshire Roads.
Mr.. Murphy Does Not Want an Asy-
Ium for Pauper Railroads.

CONCORD, N. H., Sept. 20.-In the House
this forenoon the debate on the railroad
question was resumed. Mr.. Murphy of Man
chester spoke in opposition to the Hazen bill.
He denied the report that he had been offered
a government position to vote for the Hazen
bill, although he had applied for Post Office
Inspectorship. He charged that foreign con-
tract labor had been imported into this c0un-
try by George Van Dyke in the construction
OF the Coos railroad, and he had in his pos
session copy of contract made with
gentlemen in Canada under which laborers
were brought to this State to work on that
railroad at S1S per month. AS a representa-
tive of the Knights of Labor of New Hamp-
shire, he denied the report that that organ
ization was being worked by any body.
Referring to the bill under consideration.
Mr.. Murphy argued against the admission of
the great monied monopoly into this State,
which would be created by the Hazen bill.
There was no denying the fact that If the
Boston u Maine was admitted TO the State
the people would have to share Ii adversely
if the road went down. Their plan was
one-sided partnership, in which the Maine
would be the entire gamer, and the people Of
the State losers. In the case of the Eastern,
the st. Johnsbury and Massachusetts Gen.
tral, the spectators who bought them, had
they could secure the prosperous Concord.
The State of New Hampshire ought not to
be an asylum for the owners of pauper rail-
roads to come to. The time had arrived
when the State should call a halt and organ
lze and maintain railway system Of her
own. He was opposed to monopoly, and for
that reason he should vote for the indefinite
postponement of the Hazen bill He didn't
propose TO be coerced into supporting that
measure by threats that all Manchester
Representatives voting against 1t would be
marked men. 1t had been argued that rail-
road consolidation would be great thing
here because 1t had been successful in Eng
land. That was no guide for u.s. BY the
passage of the Hazen bill the railroads Of the
State would be practically turned over into
the hands OF an uncomfortable monopoly.
What people want is competition and not
monopoly. BY the adoption Of the Hazen
bill the interests of Manchester would be
turned over to the tender mereies of a cor
poration. That city was now well served
because OF competition, and he did not be-
lieve her citizens wanted it destroyed. He
believed it dangerous thing to give to any
body Of men the control Of the railroads Of
the State for SO years.
Mr.. Bean Of Belmont said that petition
nominally in the interest of the Lake Shore,
but really for the Boston & Maine railroad,
had been circulated in this town, signed
copies of which had been circulated in this
House. He held an affidavit of a business
man that he signed that petition under mis-
apprehension. Nearly nine-tenths of the
citizens and four-fifths Of the business men
OF his town were in favor Of the Atherton
and opposed to the Hazen bill. For that
reason he felt it his duty to oppose the de-
signs of the Boston & Maine to secure con-
troll Of large percentage of the railroads of
the State